Penguin Classics

In 1946, Penguin Classics was launched with E. V. Rieu’s million copy-selling translation of The Odyssey, on the understanding that there was an eager audience for accessible translations of classic works.

Since then, the series has grown to include nearly 3,000 of the greatest and most significant works written, spanning two-and-a-half millennia and representing every corner of the globe. One in every 64 books sold in the UK is a Penguin Classic.

Penguin Classics comprises Black Spine Classics, which are works written up to the beginning of the 20th century, and Modern Classics, launched in 1961, an ever-evolving list of books from the 20th- and 21st centuries that have achieved classic status. The Modern Classics list is continually expanded with contemporary authors whose works are considered timeless. To mark the 90th anniversary of Penguin, you can also discover our Penguin Archive series for a wide-ranging list of titles published by Penguin since 1935.

Penguin Classics represents the greatest repository of our shared cultural imagination and a treasure trove for readers.